About Athens
The capital and largest city in Greece, Athens is a modern metropolis with a rich history that spans more than 3,000 years. Blending old and new, modern Greece plays an important role in the Balkan countries and the European community. It is an important link between Europe and Asia.
Athens is home to ancient monuments of the classical era, such as the Parthenon and the Acropolis, as well as a variety of Roman and Byzantine monuments. The city’s rich culture spans the traditional with museums, theaters, galleries, neighborhood markets and concert halls to the trendy with clubs, cafés and sports venues.
Despite its rapid growth in recent years, Athens has many small neighborhoods, each with their own personalities from the exotic to the upscale. The warm Mediterranean air invites many onto their balconies and into the neighborhood cafes to enjoy conversation and wonderful Greek food. In Athens you will meet people with rich customs and traditions and hear several languages spoken, including German, English and French.
Learn more about BCA Athens by reading the latest newsletter from students who studied there.
Athens Quick Facts
- Birthplace of Socrates, Pericles, Sophocles and other prominent philosophers, writers and politicians of the ancient world.
- The Parthenon, completed in 432 BC, was a temple to Athena, the patron of the city and the goddess after whom Athens was named.
- Athens offers more than 148 theatrical stages, more than any other European city.
- The first modern-day Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896, and again for the 2004 Summer Olympics.
- The population of Athens is approximately 4 million.